Gerrymandering

Introduction: The United States of America is a country that has strived for a government that is by the people and for the people from day one. As a result of this desire for unbiased representation of citizen’s demands, the Legislative branch of government was formed. The Legislative branch is a “Bicameral Legislature consisting of Senate and House of Representatives.”(p53) While these two chambers serve a different constituency, the members of both House and Senate are elected directly by…

The NP won the 1948 parliamentary election with less than 50 percent of the vote, but due to gerrymandering, the results are swayed in their favor (25). The party represented the Afrikaner population and marked the beginning of four decades of National Party rule. Soon thereafter apartheid officially begins with the alienation of the blacks through…

According to the author, the issue with U.S. politics is how it has been deconstructed from its original purpose. We have begun to treat political disagreements as war rather than facing the chance of commonsense compromise. Perhaps this extreme separation was caused by the definition of certain ideologies in addition to the use of the party system. “…deep philosophical differences aren’t new and that some of the most ideologically charged periods produced important policy advantages… (Article)”…

Appropriations Committee: A congressional committee that works with federal spending. So What: The appropriations committee holds the power of the purse, and controls all the senate's spending. Bicameralism: A lawmaking body made up of two houses. So What: In a bicameral legislature bills are produced in a way that will represent the states and the people. commerce power: Power to regulate foreign trade and between the states. So What: Commerce power is important because it’s congress’…

“One man, one vote”, a phrase and a principle that is the foundation of any great democracy. The U.S has adopted this principle in the form of universal suffrage for all of it citizens and symbolizes the country’s unity and equality. However, every four years in the month of November in the presidential election when one individual is chosen to lead the nation, one would expect for the winner of the election to be the will of the people, but unfortunately that’s not the case. In the most…

voters not being active or engaged enough to elect officials representatives. Even if that were to change, it alone, would not be enough to change much. This winner take all methodology is “central reason for major problems with our politics: gerrymandering, partisan gridlock...distortions in fair representation have roots in the winner take all method”. The U.S is in critical need of fair representation and it is one of the very pressing issues American democracy faces…

minority ethnic groups from voting, Anglo political leaders imposed poll taxes and literacy tests were issued in order to stop them from voting. As a solution to this problem, many Chicanos had parties where food was sold to cover the poll tax. Gerrymandering of districts separated the Latin community so that whites were the predominant race in that district. This benefited Anglos so that Latinos wouldn’t hold any political…

Redistricting has always been a problem in this country. “Legislative redistricting is among the most intensely fought battles in American politics. Through redistricting, political parties seek to control government, incumbents seek job security, and minority groups seek representation.” (McDonald pg. 371) This all needs to change to be more representative and turn back to what the founding fathers intended of a representative government, that is one that represents and is for the people.…

28. How does sexual harassment have to do with the 1964 Civil Rights Act? Through interpretation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act during the late 1970s, the courts decided that sexual harassment was a form of discrimination. The courts recognized two forms of sexual harassment: “quid pro quo” harassment (implied threat wherein submission is “continued employment”), and “hostile environment” (offensive/intimidating employment conditions). After much debate, the courts ruled that sexual…

Marbury v Madison (1803), was the first instance of increase of power, when Chief Justice John Marshall first implemented judicial review, a doctrine where the judicial branch examines the constitutionality of actions taken by the legislative and executive branches. With the passage of the 14th Amendment, judicial power was again substantially augmented with the implementation of three key clauses: the Privileges and Immunities, Due Process,and the Equal Protection clauses. Since the passage of…